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xj1100j rims(cleaning)

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  • xj1100j rims(cleaning)

    the bike has been sitting for 7 yrs.
    i have completley restored it.
    the black part of the rims seem to come clean with a good cleaning with dish soap ad a lot of elbo grease.
    the outside aluminim is giving me a problem.(does aluminum oxidize)? i was using mothers cleaner but really no worky.
    can i use a dremmel with a felt tip?
    what to do.HELP.
    Movin On Down The Line.
    Where Ever You Go.
    There You Are.
    '82'xj1100j Maxim

  • #2
    Yes, aluminum oxidizes. Everybody has their own way to do it, but generally, if you just take some wetsand sandpaper and start with somewhere around 600 grit if it's pretty nasty, then work up (Down?) in size to about a 1500 or 2000 grit for polishing it up. When you think you have it looking pretty shiny like that, hit it with that Mother's polish and go get the sunglasses out!

    Many of these parts stilll have some of the varnish that they coated all the aluminum with and it's a pain to get off. Go to the search button on top and type in "Aluminum polish" or something similar and read. Some are simple... and some people need to be commited! lol. Choose what works best for you.


    Tod
    Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

    You can live to be 100, as long as you give up everything that would make you want to live to be 100!

    Current bikes:
    '06 Suzuki DR650
    *'82 XJ1100 with the 1179 kit. "Mad Maxim"
    '82 XJ1100 Completely stock fixer-upper
    '82 XJ1100 Bagger fixer-upper
    '82 XJ1100 Motor/frame and lots of boxes of parts
    '82 XJ1100 Parts bike
    '81 XS1100 Special
    '81 YZ250
    '80 XS850 Special
    '80 XR100
    *Crashed/Totalled, still own

    Comment


    • #3
      As an ex-trucker...

      I use aluminum polish bought at the local truck stop. They have a HUGE selection of waxes and polishes, and the stuff is AWESOME at removing oxifdation from aluminum
      "Rat Rod"
      79 XS1100 Standard
      87 VMAX cans
      Cheap Japanese Tires
      Cobalt Blue Rattle Can Paint
      Custom Lighting on a Budget

      Perry Center Fire Department
      Perry Emergency Ambulance

      "If we don't do it, who will?"


      Some people have one of those days, I have one of those lives...

      Comment


      • #4
        For the rear, put the bike on the center stand. Have someone start the engine. Tell them to put it into gear and idle it at like 5mph. While the rear wheel is spinning, carefully hold the sand paper against the aluminum. Polishes right up. No elbow grease required.

        May not be considered safe, but it worked for me. If you cannot do this safely, don't do it.

        Ben
        1985 Yamaha VMX12n "Max X" - Stock
        1982 Honda XL500r "Big Red" - Stump Puller. Unknown mileage.
        1974-78 Honda XL350 hybrid - The thumper that revs. Unknown miles.
        1974 Suzuki TC/TS125 hybrid. Trials with trail gear. Invaluable. Unknown miles.
        1971 Honda CL350. For Dad. Newtronic Electronic Ign. Reliable. Unknown miles.

        Formerly:
        1982 XS650
        1980 XS1100g
        1979 XS1100sf
        1978 XS1100e donor

        Comment


        • #5
          If your machine has been sitting for 7 years you probably need to have new tires. It is recommended that tires be replaced every 5 years anyway. With the wheel and tire off is the time to hit it with a spray can of brake parts cleaner and a rag that should take off any remaining clear coating from the formerly polished aluminum rim. Then sand with 400 grit then 600 grit then 1000 grit wet-or-dry sand paper. After that it will polish up smartly by hand with some Mothers Aluminum Polish. If you have a buffing wheel, that is even better. You can also check your bearings, etc at this time.
          Mike Giroir
          79 XS-1100 Special

          Once you un-can a can of worms, the only way to re-can them is with a bigger can.

          Comment


          • #6
            While the rear wheel is spinning, carefully hold the sand paper against the aluminum. Polishes right up. No elbow grease required.

            AND..... The neat buzz you get from the exhaust fumes is GREAT!! I may actually try this method on mine... but I was thinking... if it polished up OK at 5mph... think how fast you could get it done with it doing about 80!

            "Don't try this at home kids".. lol


            Tod
            Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

            You can live to be 100, as long as you give up everything that would make you want to live to be 100!

            Current bikes:
            '06 Suzuki DR650
            *'82 XJ1100 with the 1179 kit. "Mad Maxim"
            '82 XJ1100 Completely stock fixer-upper
            '82 XJ1100 Bagger fixer-upper
            '82 XJ1100 Motor/frame and lots of boxes of parts
            '82 XJ1100 Parts bike
            '81 XS1100 Special
            '81 YZ250
            '80 XS850 Special
            '80 XR100
            *Crashed/Totalled, still own

            Comment


            • #7
              Oh


              MY



              GOD!!!!
              "Rat Rod"
              79 XS1100 Standard
              87 VMAX cans
              Cheap Japanese Tires
              Cobalt Blue Rattle Can Paint
              Custom Lighting on a Budget

              Perry Center Fire Department
              Perry Emergency Ambulance

              "If we don't do it, who will?"


              Some people have one of those days, I have one of those lives...

              Comment


              • #8
                Now that was funny!!!!

                Comment


                • #9
                  rim cleaning

                  has any one used a product called wheel brite
                  to clean of the alluminun
                  Movin On Down The Line.
                  Where Ever You Go.
                  There You Are.
                  '82'xj1100j Maxim

                  Comment


                  • #10


                    LOL.

                    No, really, I bought a buffing kit from Harbor Freight that works with an electric drill.

                    See this thread.

                    It came with attachments that worked great on the wheel aluminum.

                    Ben
                    1985 Yamaha VMX12n "Max X" - Stock
                    1982 Honda XL500r "Big Red" - Stump Puller. Unknown mileage.
                    1974-78 Honda XL350 hybrid - The thumper that revs. Unknown miles.
                    1974 Suzuki TC/TS125 hybrid. Trials with trail gear. Invaluable. Unknown miles.
                    1971 Honda CL350. For Dad. Newtronic Electronic Ign. Reliable. Unknown miles.

                    Formerly:
                    1982 XS650
                    1980 XS1100g
                    1979 XS1100sf
                    1978 XS1100e donor

                    Comment

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